Wheel-forging machine.



J. G. GROMWELL.

WHEEL FOBGING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE so; 1910.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

3 SHBBTS-SHEET 1.

Ma Maw J. G. CROMWELL.

WHEEL FORGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30. 1910.

1,1 1 5,786. Patented Nov. 3, 1914 3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

7 I Invent;

WWW g MM W6 J. G. CROMWELL.

WHEEL FORGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, 1910.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

-SHEET 3.

3 SHEETS v 1NVENTOR WITNESSES ill JOEE 6. 030mm, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

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Specification 01 Letters Patent.

Application filed June 80, 191% Serial No. 569,819!

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, done: Q CRoerWELL, of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Wheel-Forging Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in wh1ch Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section showing one form of my improved machine for forging wheels orjacircular articles. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig 1, showing a modified form of the invention, and Fi 3 and 4 are cross-sections on the IiuesIH -JH and lV-IV respectively of i 2. a l dy invention relates to the roller-forging of circular articles, such as steel car-wheels.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved machine of simple and strong construction by which a disk or cheeseshaped blank of 'hot steel or other desirable metal ma be forged to the desired shape in an inc osing die or' dies.

In the preferred forms of my invention, the disk or cheese-shaped blank is thicker and of less diameter than the finished wheel. The blank is preferably perforated, and either provided with a mandrel before 1nsertion' into the roller-forming machine, or is slipped upon a centerin mandrel, which may be a part of the mac 'ne, either fixed to or removably attached to the die or roller carrier.

In the drawings, .2 represents a circular die, which is preferably in one piece, and is provided at its top with the die cavity of the shape of the article'to be formed, 1}! this case, a steel car wheel. This die is removably secured to the enlarged head 3 of a hydraulic plunger 4, movable within a hydraulic cylinder 5, which is revolubl mounted in a marine thrust bearing, indlcated at 5'. The marine thrust bearing is formed between the hydraulic cylinder 5 and a hollow stationary cylindrical casing 6, which is bolted or otherwise securedto the housing 7.

8 indicates a portion of the water-cooling cavityor cavities within the hollow casing; Thehead 3 of the plunger is provided wit. the outwardly projecting lugs 9, which move within suitableslots in an outer outwardly projecting casing portion 10 of the hydraulic cylinder 5, thus giving practically a crab-clutch connection between the plunger head and the revoluble cylinder. v To the lower end of the cylinder is keyed or other- W158 secured abevel wheel 11, meshing with bevel pinlon 12, mounted on shaft 13, exteiidingthrough suitable hearings in the housing. I

One portion of the housing is extended upwardly, as shown at 14, to carry one of the bearings for a large shaftlf), carrying at its inner end an overhung forging roller 16. This forging roller is of the proper shape desired for one face of the car wheel or other article, and preferably extends from the removable mandrel 17 to the blank out to and over the die. The dividing line between the'roller and the die is preferably at the largest portion of the wheel, namely,

at the edge of its flange in the case of a car wheel, so that the wheel may be readily removed from the die when the rolling operation is completed. The mandrel 17 is preferably provided with a reduced lower portion which seats in a corresponding central recess in the die. The shaft 15 is refer'ably provided with one or more additional bearings, one of which is indicated at 18, and is preferably positively driven by gear connections. 7

In the operation of the machine, the lungt-r being lowered, the wheel blank is p aced in the die, and if the mandrel is in the blank its projecting end is slipped into the central cavity in the die. If the mandrel is present in the die, the wheel: blank is slipped over it. Positive rotation is then imparted to the hydraulic cylinder and to the roller 16. At the same time fluid is' admitted to the hydraulic cylinder, thus forcing the wheel blank upwardly against the forming roller, which roller forges the metal into the shape of the wheel. The surplus metal in the blank, if any, will be forced into fins at either or both edges of the forming roller. Theroller may overlap the mandrel if desired. The die is then lowered by exhausting the fluid from the hydraulic cylinder,

the formed wheel is removed, another blank,

- Patented Nov. 3, 1914. I

which is provided with a hollow casing 20 secured thereto and having a marine thrust bearing with a hollow revoluble shaft 21;

To the upper end of this shaft is secured a bevel wheel 22 intermeshing with bevel pinion 23 on the driving shaft 24. The lower end of the hollow shaft 21 is provided with a head 25, to which is secured a plate or disk 26, which I term theressure disk, for the forming rollers 16'. he face of this pressure plate which contacts with the rollcrs, is provided with annular grooves which fit and conform to the contour of the rollers. I have shown two of these rollers mounted on a transverse shaft 27, as shown in Fig. 4, each roller being 'made up of several independently rotatable disks to more effectually provide for the differences in speed, owing to their being at difi'erent distances from the center of the path of rotation. The ends of the shaft 27 are mounted in flattened arallel portions of a carrying ring 28, w ich is carried on arcshaped hangers 29 secured at opposite sides of the head 25. The vertical recesses in these hangers are of 'suflicient height to allow some vertical movementof the rollers and carrying shaft, and in operation the rollers are backed up by the pressure plate, the pressure on which is carried by the marine bearing between the upper driving shaft and easing. A central spacer may be inserted between the two rollers, and nuts are rovided at the outer ends of the shafts, to old the disks of each roller in proper position, while allowing relative movement between the forming disks of the rollers.

In the operation of this machine, the blank of the mandrel is dropped into the die and the hydraulic plunger is forced upwardly, while both the hydraulic cylinder and the u per hollow shaft 21 are positively rotate in opposite directions. As the hot metal blank contacts with therollers 16, they will be pushed upwardly slightly against their acking or pressure p ate, and will rotate thereon within the annular rooves inwhich they fit. They are, there ore, not driven merel by friction with the blank, but are also riven by the rotation over them of the pressure or backing plate within which they In any or all the forms of my invention, water is preferably supplied, preferably in the form of a s ray orstream directly upon either the artic e or the rollers. I have indicated a pipe for this purpose at 34, but the water may be supplied in any desirable way.

The advantages of my invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art. A simple strong and efi'ective form of apparatus is provided by which wheels may be rollerforgd at one o eration, if desired, from the blank. The lank may be produced by suitably cross-shearing steel ingots to produce a series of disks, or in any other desirable way. The die and the rollers both being driven, the operation is rapid and effective, and owing to rollers being used, the pressure on the blank is exerted to a considerable depth therein.

It will readily be understood by those familiar with the art that various changes within the scope of the appended claims may be made in the details of the construction of the various parts, and particularly the actuating mechanism for rotating the forming rollers relatively to the die. It will also be understood that the various parts can be moved relative to each other in various manners, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In stroller-forging press for substantially circular articles, an inclosing die, a roller having a peripheral forming surface, actuating connections for positively rotating said roller, and means for eflecting relative bodily movement between the roller and die; substantially as described.

2. In a roller-forging press for substantially circular articles, a roller having a peripheral forming surface, connections for positively rotating the roller, an annular die, connections for causing relative bodily movement between the roller and die, and connections for causing a relative rotary movement between the die and roller; substantially as described.

3. In a roller-forging press for substantially circular articles, a forming roller having a peripheral forming surface, an inclosing die arranged to rotate on a'central'axis, actuating connections for positively rotating said roller and die, and means for effecting relative bodily movement between the roller and die; substantially as described.

4. In a roller-forging press for substantially circular articles, a roller having a peripheral forming surface, arranged to shape at least one face of the article, an inclosing die arranged to shape another part of the article, means arranged to cause relative bodily movement between the roller and die, and actuating connections for positively rotating the die and roller; substantially as described.

5. In a roller-forging press, a roller having a peripheral forming surface arranged to shape a portion of the article, an inclosing die arranged to rotate on a central axis, hydraulic means arranged to cause relative bodily movement between the die and roller,

and actuating connections for positively rotating said roller; substantially as described.

6. In a roller-forging press, in inclosing die, a roller having a ripheral forming surface coactin therewith, connections arranged to positively rotate said roller, and means for effecting relative bodily movement between the roller and die; substantially as described,

7. In a roller-forging press, inclosing die, a roller having a peripheral forming surface coacting therewith, actuating connections for positively rotating said roller and means for positively moving the die bodily toward the roller during rotation thereof; substantially as describe 8. In a roller for 'ng press, an inclosing die, acarrier there or, means for rotatin the carrier, a roller having a periphera forming surface coacting with the die, connections arranged to positively drive, the roller, and means for e ectin relative bodily movement between the r01 er and the die carrier; substantially as described.

9. In roller-forging apparatus, a forming die mounted on the movable member of a hydraulic motor,-connections for rotating both members of the motor, a forming roller havingla peripheral forming surface coacting wit the (he, and connections-arranged to positively rotate said forming roller; substantially as described.

10. In roller-forging apparatus, a motor having a reciprocating'member, a die 'carried by said member, means for rotating the member and die, a forming roller coacting with the die, and means for positively rotating said roller; substantially as described.

11. In the roller-forging of substantially circular articles, the steps consisting of inclosing the blank within a die, applyin the periphery of the formingroller to the b ank, positive] rotating the roller and causing a relative bodily movement between the r0 er and die; substantially as described.

12. In the roller-forging of substantially circular articles, the steps consisting of inclosing the blank within a die, ap lying a forming roller to the blank, 'tive y rotating the roller and die, and e acting a bodily movement between the roller and die; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

. JOHN C. CROMWELL.

Witnesses:

WILLARD BnowN, G. L. Jonas. 

